Treating apparatus for coal and like material



Jan. 28, 1941. T. c. CHEASLEY TREATING APPARATUS FOR COAL AND LIKEMATERIAL I 2 Filed March 18, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR a C.Cheqs/e] Thom I ATTORN EY Jan. 28, 1941, T. c. CHEASLEY 2,229,725

TREATING APPARATUS FOR COAL AND LIKE MATERIAL Filed March 18, 1938 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Thomas CCheas/ey ATTORN EY TREATING APPARATUSFOR COAL AND LIKE MATERIAL Filed March 18, 1938 4 Shee ts-Sheet sINVENTOR Tho as .Che s/ey BY ATTORNEY Jan. 28, 1941- T. 9:. CHEASLEYTREATING APPARATUS FOR COAL AND LIKE MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledMarch 18, 1958 INVENTOR The a .Cheas/ey ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 28, 1941PATENT OFFICE TREATING APPARATUS FOR COAL AND LIKE MATERIAL Thomas C.Cheasley, Kansas City, Mo.

Application March 18, 1938, Serial N0. 196,717

7. Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for treating coal and similarfuels with a liquid coating solution, and has for its principal objectto provide an apparatus of this character constructed for efiicientapplication of the solution.

Other important objects of the invention are to provide an apparatus forapplying the solution in spray form; to provide the apparatus with ahood for confining the spray directly to the zone of application; toprovide the apparatus with means for maintaining substantially uniformtemperature at the zone of application; to provide the fuel inlet andoutlet ends of the hood with independently movable flaps to prevent lossof the atomized coating material from the coating chamber; to providemeans for ad coal through the spraying zone; and to provide.

means for selectively diverting discharge of the coal from the treatinghood.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, ashereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure,the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved coal treating apparatusassociated with the discharge end of a leading boom, parts of theapparatus being broken away to better illustrate the construction.

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view from a different angle toillustrate the fuel inlet side of the treating chamber, a part of thehood wall and closure flaps being broken away to show the interiorconstruction.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a modified form of the inventionshowing a double outlet whereby the treated coal is diverted from oneoutlet to the other for providing continuous operation of the treatingvapparatus.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates my improved treating apparatus associated with thedischarge end of a loading boom 2. The loading boom 2 may be of anystandard construction but is here shown as including side frames 3 and 4having adjustable bearing blocks 5 for journalling the ends of theconveyor shaft 6. Fixed on the shaft 6 are sprockets l for carrying thedischarge end 8 of an endless conveyor 9 of belt, apron or similar type,having an upper run l0 carrying the coal or similar fuel to be treatedin the apparatus I.

The apparatus l includes a housing or hood ll, having side walls l2 andI3 rigidly o-r detachably secured to the side frames 3 and 4 of the boomand connected by a top I4 and a bottom l5 to form an enclosed treatingchamber [6. The bottom 15 slopes downwardly from the discharge end ofthe conveyor belt and includes a plate portion I! having its endsrigidly connected to the side walls and having the edge i8 thereofspaced from the conveyor to accommodate an adjustable section [9. Thesection H) has its upper edge 20 located in close relation with theconveyor belt to catch the coal as it is discharged therefrom, while theopposite edge 2| overlaps the fixed section I! and is adjustably securedthereto by fastening devices, such as bolts 23 extending throughopenings 24 in the section l9 and through aligning slots 25 in the fixedsection, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The section 19 is thusadjustably supported for movement to and from the discharge end of theconveyor belt so as to assure deflection of the discharged coal into thetreating chamber.

In order to reduce degradation incidental to discharge of the coal fromthe conveyor belt, the sections I1 and 19 are covered with a sheet ofyielding material, such as rubber or thelike 26. Fixed to the edge ofthe section ll, opposite the edge I I, is a transverse plate 21 forpivo-tally supporting the upper end 28 of a section Zllwhich isadjustable for slope to control gravitational discharge of the coal fromthe treating chamber whereby the coal is caused to roll at the propervelocity to assure exposure of all sides to the coating solution, aslater described. The sheet of yielding material 26 preferably overlapsthe adjustable section 29 so as to cover the joint between it and thefixed section II, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

'The top I4 includes a portion 30 that is spaced above the upper run ofthe conveyor belt and extends substantially parallel therewith toterminate in a downwardly inclined portion 3|, substantially conformingto the slope ofthe bottom I5. The side walls at the inlet end 32 of thehousing are connected by a cross plate 33 having its upper edgeconnected with the section 38 of the top I4 and its lower edge 34 spacedabove the upper run of the conveyor to form an inlet opening 35therebetween. Fixed within the housing and spaced from the plate 33 is asimilar plate 36.

The plates 33 and 36 are provided with a series of vertical slots 31 and38 for adjustably mounting a plurality of juxtaposed flaps 39 and 48that are individually secured at their upper ends by fastening devices Mand 42, extending through the slots 37 and 38 and through registeringopenings 43 and 44 in the flaps, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Theflaps are preferably formed of yieldable material resistant to thecoating solution and to the abrading action of the coal movingthereunder. The flaps 33 are of sufficient number and of suitable lengthto depend in close proximity with the upper run of the conveyor belt soas to substantially close the opening after the lumps of coal arecarried thereunder by the conveyor. The flaps are thus independentlymovable so that the large lumps passing certain of the flaps havenoeiiect on movement of the other flaps whereby the lower edges of allthe flaps are maintained in close proximity with the coal. The flaps 40are of sufficient length to depend over the discharge end of theconveyor belt and terminate in close proximity with the inclined bottomI to cooperate with the flaps 39 to form a spray collecting compartment45 for any of the coating spray that may pass between the slits of theinner flaps 48. The opposite end of the housing includes an end wall 46connected with the lower end of the inclined section 3i and with theterminal ends of the side wall, as shown in Fig. l. The lower edge 47 ofthe end wall terminates above the discharge end of the bottom section 29to form an outlet opening 48 through which the treated coal isdischarged into a car or the like.

Fixed to the face of the end wall are spaced transverse plates 49 and 50having a series of spaced vertical slots 5I and 52, corresponding to theplates 33 and 36, previously described. Fixed to the plates are flexiblefiaps 53 and 54 having their lower ends substantially contacting the upper surface of the bottom section 9, the upper ends of the flaps beingsecured to the plates 49 and 58 by fastening devices 55 and 53 extendingthrough openings 51 and 58 therein and through the slots 51 and 52. Theflexible flaps thus cooperate with the plates in forming a spraycollecting compartment 59 at the discharge end of the housing, similarto the spray compartment 45 at the inlet end.

In treating small lump and nut coals, the coal is moved in a uniformlayer substantially across theentire width of the belt, and there is atendency for the coal to pile up in front of the flaps. To overcome thisdifficulty, the plates 33, 35 and 58 and the lower portion of the plate49 may be hingedly supported by suitable hinges 68 to allow movement ofthe flaps in the direction of the advancement of the coal so that thespaces under the flaps are such as to allow movement of the coal withoutcausing the coal to pile up in front of the flaps. In the instances ofthe larger and heavier lumps of coal, the weight thereof is sufficientto prevent piling up of the coal and the flaps yield sufficiently topermit free passage thereof to and from the treating chamber.

In order to facilitate maintenance of uniform temperature within thehousing, the side, top and end wall 46 are preferably formed of spacedjackets 6| and 62' for enclosing an insulating material 63. Located inthe inclined portion 3| of the top wall and extending transverselythere- 5 across is a substantially rectangular shaped opening 64 that isclosed by a continuation of the inner jacket 62 Which is provided with aseries of openings 65, 66 and 61 corresponding to spacing of spraynozzles 68, 69 and I0, later described. The spray nozzles are enclosedby a box-like housing II, having side walls I2 and end walls I3 and I4corresponding to the rectangular shaped opening 63. The end wall I4 isformed as a part of the top wall I5 that is hinged to the opposite endwall I3 by hinges I6, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to provide accessto the spray nozzles when the end and top walls are raised to theposition shown in Fig. 1.

Extending through suitable openings 11 and I8 in the end walls of thehousing is a pipe I9 that is connected with a source of supply oftreating solution, and which is provided with T-fittings 80, BI and 82aligning with the openings 65, 66 and 61 and which are provided withnipples 83, 84 and 85 carrying the respective spray nozzles so that theyare located concentrically within the openings and substantially in theplane of the inner jacket sheet 62 that forms the bottom of the nozzlehousing. When the'coating solution is discharged through the nozzles, anaspirating action is produced through the openings so as to effect avacuum within the nozzle housing. I therefore utilize this vacuum fordrawing any of the atomized coating solution that tends to collectwithin the compartments 45 and 59 and to prevent escape thereof from thehood. This is accomplished by providing sets of suction pipes 85 and 81leading from alignment with the respective nozzles through theinsulating space of the top wall and terminating over the compartments45 and 59 in downturned ends 88 and 89, so that the spray collectingwithin the compartments is drawn into the spray housing and dischargedalong with the spray into the treating chamber.

Some treating solutions tend to congeal at ordinary temperatures and itis, therefore, desirable to provide the housing with a heater, such ascoils 9I that are located in the top of the spray chamber and areconnected by pipes 92 and 93 with a suitable source of supply of heatingmedium, such as steam, heated oil, or the like.

In order to support the adjustable section 29 of the bottom I5 in anyselected position, the ends thereof are provided with brackets 94 and95, projecting through the discharge opening and pivotally connectedwith reciprocating bars 96 and 91 guidingly supported in looplikebrackets 98 carried by the end wall 46. The upper ends of the rods havehandles 99 to facilitate movement thereof. The bars are retained inadjusted posi- .tion by fastening devices, such as pins I08 that areprojectable through openings lIlI in the looplike brackets, and throughone of a series of openings I82 in the bars, as best shown in Fig. 3.

The form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4 is substantially thesame as that illustrated in the form of the invention just described,with the exception of the bottom of the hood II. In this form of theinvention the bottom includes oppositely diverging sections I04 and I95respectively leading to outlet openings I85 and III! through whichthetreated coal is selectively discharged. The bottom section I85 is hingedto the section I84 by a hinge I88 so that the inclination of the sectionis adjustable similarly to the section 29 in the preferred form of theinvention. Fixed to the sides of the hood, at a point adjacent thedischarge end of the conveyor, is an angle shaped plate I09 having aninclined portion III] located substantially in the plane of the movablesection I05 to support an adjustable plate III that cooperates with adeflector I I2 to form a continuation of the bottom section I85 when thetreated fuel is to be diverted through the opening I01. The section H2is secured adjacent the juncture of the sections I84 and I05 on a rodII3, the rod II3 being provided with an actuating lever I Hi whereby thedeflector may be swung into the plane of the section I05 or moved to theposition shown in Fig. 4 for closing the outlet IG'I. The angle shapedplate includes diverging wings H5 and H6 to which flexible flaps Ill andH8 are secured, as described in the preferred form of the invention, tonormally close the outlet IilIi but to permit passage of coal down thebottom section I04 when the deflector is in the position illustrated inFig. 4. The opening I0! is normally closed by similarly arrangedflexible flaps II 9 and I20 corresponding to the sets of flaps 53 and 54in the preferred form of the invention. When the deflector H2 is swungto the position indicated in dotted lines at I2I, the coal dischargesoff the conveyor and rolls by gravity across the deflector onto thebottom section I05 for discharge through the outlet IIII. When a car hasbeen filled through the outlet IB'I it is ordinarily necessary to stopdischarge of the treated fuel while another car is being moved intoreceiving relation with the boom. However, with this form of theinvention it is only necessary to swing the deflector to the full lineposition shown in Fig. 4 to close the passageway through the openingIIJ'I, whereupon the treated coal is delivered through the opening I06to a car located on an adjacent track or coupled behind the first car.Discharge of the treated coal through the opening I06 may be continueduntil that car is filled. In the meantime another car is moved intoreceiving relation with the opening IIJI. It is, however, betterpractice to continue the discharge of coal through the opening ID! assoon as another car is moved into receiving relation therewith. This isparticularly true since the coal dropping onto the bottom section I94 isapt to be broken. The path of travel is also shorter through the hood sothat the coal may not be sufiiciently treated.

In operating an apparatus constructed and assembled as described, andassuming that the treating apparatus is mounted on a boom as shown inthe drawings, a car is moved into receiving relation with the hood ofthe treating apparatus. The conveyor is then started to move the coal onthe upper run of the boom conveyor. When the coal reaches the inlet ofthe hood the first flaps will be deflected and. the coal will passthereunder into the spray collecting chamb r and will be carriedtherethrough, past the second series of flaps onto the inclined bottomI5. The fall of the coal will be eased by the sheet covering 26 so as toprevent undue breakage of the coal. The treating solution is dischargedunder pressure through the nozzles and directed upon the coal as itrolls down the inclined bottom. The coal after being treated will rollunder the flexible flaps 53 and 54 at the discharge end of the housingand into the car. During winter weather or when using coating solutionsthat tend to congeal a heating medium is circulated in handling coalabout a mine.

through the heating coil to maintain the desired temperatures. in thetreating chamber, thereby preventing congealing of the material on theside walls thereof and assuring contact of the solution with all partsof the coal as the solution is maintained in liquid state until thetreated coal has passed out of the hood.

The adjustable section 29 of the bottom may be positioned so that it isat the desired angle to prevent discharge of the coal with sufficientforce to cause breaking thereof. the spray through the nozzles causes avacuum effect to form within the nozzle housing, whereupon atomizedsolution collected in the end compartments is drawn through the sets oftubes 86 and 81 and returned to the treating chamber.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 operates in substantially thesame manner as the preferred construction with the exception that theboom conveyor may operate continuously. In this instance the deflectoris positioned so as to divert the treated coal through one opening whilea car is being moved into receiving relation with the other opening.

While I have specifically described the invention as being associatedwith a boom, it is obvious that a hood employing the flaps as shown maybe-located on any of the various conveyors used The hood as shownconfines the spray to the zone of application and prevents drafts of airfrom blowing the solution away from the coal being treated. The heatingcoil and insulation maintain the required temperatures to prevent rapidsolidification of the coating mtaerial and maintain the materialsufficiently fluid to assure complete coverage of each particle of coalas it rolls down the inclined bottom into the car. The flaps providedouble seals for preventing escape of the atomized solution through theopenings, the flaps being independently movable so as to individuallypass the various size lumps that may contact with them. When the lowerends of the flaps become worn they may be readily adjusted to maintainthem in sealing contact with the coal by adjusting the fastening devicesin the slots as is readily apparent upon inspection of the drawings.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a conveyor, a housing having an inlet and spacedoutlet openings, means supporting the housing relatively to the conveyorwhereby the material discharged from the conveyor passes through thehousing, means in the housing for spraying said material, means in thehousing for selectively diverting said material through one and theother of said outlet openings, and means supporting the spraying meansin position to discharge spray on the material as it is diverted througha selected opening.

2. In combination with a boom conveyor, a spray housing having aninclined bottom and inlet and outlet openings for material conveyed bysaid boom conveyor, means supporting the spray housing on the boomconveyor, a nozzle in the housing for spraying the material rolling oversaid bottom, sets of juxtaposed flexible flaps supported by the housingand closing said openings to form a trap for the spray tending to escapethrough said openings, a housing enclosing said nozzle, and a suctionduct connecting the nozzle housing with said trap to draw said trappedspray into the spray housing.

3. In a treating apparatus of the character described, a housing havingan opening for pas- Discharge of sage of material treated in saidhousing, means located in the housing remote from said opening forspraying a treating solution on the material, means normally closingsaid opening and movable responsive to contact of the material forretarding escape of the treating solution from the housing, a suctionchamber over said opening and in the path of spray that tends to escapethrough said opening, and suction means for returning spray from saidsuction chamber into the housing at a point above material passedthrough the housing.

4. In a treating apparatus, a housing having an outlet opening, meansfor delivering a material into the housing for discharge through theoutlet opening, spaced sets of closures for said outlet openin gandyieldable responsive to movement of the material to form a collectingcompartment, means in the housing for discharging a treating solutiononto the material, and means connecting said collecting compartment withthe housing for returning excess spray of said solution which collectsin the compartment into the housing.

5. In a treating apparatus of the character described, a housing havinginlet and outlet openings for passage of material to be treated, meansin the housing for discharging a treating solutionon the material, pairsof closures for said openings yieldable responsive to movement of thematerial through the housing, said closures in each pair beingspaced toprovide collecting chambers for excess spray from the solution thattends to escape through said openings, and means for withdrawing excessspray from said collecting chambers including means for returning theexcess spray to the interior of said housing.

6. In a treating apparatus of the character described, a housing havinginlet and outlet openings for the passage of material to be treated,means in the housing for discharging a treating solution on thematerial, spaced sets of closures for the respective openings yieldableresponsive to movement of the material through the housing and formingcollecting compartments for trapping excess spray from the treatingsolution which tends to escape through said openings, and means foreffecting a suction in said collecting compartments including means forwithdrawing excess spray trapped in said compartments and returning saidexcess spray to the housing.

7. In a treating apparatus of the character described, a spray housinghaving inlet and outlet openings for passage of material to be treated,a nozzle housing having connection with an opening in said spray housingat a point spaced inwardly from said inlet and outlet openings, a nozzlesupported in said last named opening for spraying a treating solutiononto the material, suction chambers located over said inlet and outletopenings and in position for collecting spray tending to escape throughsaid openings, and ducts connected with the nozzle housing and with saidsuction chambers to conduct the collected spray into the nozzle housingincidental tothe aspirating effect of the spray discharged from saidnozzle.

THOMAS C. CHEASLEY.

